De exercitie met schild en spies: de soldaat brengt met zijn linkerarm het schild terug op de rug (nr. 26), 1618 1616 - 1618

Adam van Breen made this print in 1618, depicting a soldier in full armor. It might seem like a simple illustration, but it opens a window onto the military culture of the Dutch Republic during the early 17th century. Visual codes here are quite telling. Notice the soldier's posture, the way he handles his shield and spear, the very specific details of his armor and clothing. These details speak to a culture deeply invested in military preparedness. The Dutch Republic was in the midst of the Eighty Years' War with Spain and the army was central to its identity. The print comes from a manual, it was part of a larger project of standardizing military training and drilling soldiers in the latest combat techniques. These manuals weren't just for soldiers, they were also consumed by a civilian population eager for news of military and political events. As historians, we consult a wide range of documentary resources: military archives, political pamphlets, personal correspondence, and so on. These sources help us to understand how art is always shaped by its historical context.